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Thursday, February 21, 2008

Ribbon Ruffle Socks Tutorial

This is so easy and I hardly think it requires pictures. But for those who want them...here you go! I had no idea so many blog buddies wanted directions for ribbon ruffle socks.

Step 1: Buy socks. Wash/dry socks.

Step 2: Stretch end of sock where you want the ribbon ruffle to end up. Measure to figure out how much ribbon you will need. Just guesstimate. It is roughly twice the size of the un-stretched sock.

Step 3: Cut ribbon to size, adding an extra 1/2 inch for a seam.

Step 4: Use Frey Check or clear nail polish on ends of ribbon. Allow to dry.

If you need baby socks or grosgrain ribbon, here are some deals that I found...

Step 5: Sew ribbon ends together to form a loop.

Step 6: Turn sock inside out. Before I turned it inside out I marked with a pin the direction and side that I wanted the ribbon to be attached. But this was just to help me remember- if you have a better mind you will not need to do this.

Step 7: Pin seamed end of ribbon to back of sock. Then pinch ribbon to sort of figure out where the other 3 quadrants are and pin them as well to the sock. Again, just use your best judgment. This is not an exact science. Or it isn't when I sew them anyway.

Step 8: This is the hardest part of this entire process. Ready? OK! (I totally said that in my head like an old-school '80's cheerleader) You need to stretch the tiny sock and sew at the same time. I figured that you need to stretch from pin a to pin b and so on as you are sewing. I used a zig zag stitch to allow for more stretch/give after it is sewn. The trickiest part is just keeping the sock stretched out while sewing on the ribbon. Which is less tricky and more just a reminder to go slowly.

Minus the time it takes for the Frey Check to dry, this whole process only takes a few minutes. Easy peasy! And the perfect addition to any little girl gift!

It is really easy to end fraying, especially on grosgrain. You just take a lighter (I use the long handled one for candles) and run the end of your ribbon right over it for a few seconds. It singes the ends and NO fraying.

so cute! I have a bajillion little socks that my son has outgrown that I wanted to pass onto my niece, but they are just plain boy socks. I'll have to transform a few pair and hand them down! Thanks for the great tutorial-ette!